Longtime Fire Engineering technical editor and Miami-Dade (FL) fire captain Bill Gustin died suddenly. Gustin, a 51-year veteran of the fire department, was considered to be one of the most knowledgeable fire teachers in the business and was actively involved in training over his tenure.
He was a lead instructor in Miami-Dade’s Officer Development Program and started his career in fire service in the Chicago region. Miami-Dade (FL) Fire Rescue (MDFR) reports that Gustin started out as a volunteer firefighter in 1973.
He was a third-generation firefighter, continuing the honorable tradition of his grandpa and father, both of whom were Chicago Fire Department officials. He enlisted in MDFR in 1978 and progressed through the ranks, becoming a commander in 1986 and a lieutenant in 1983. He oversaw Engine 2 for over three decades.
He served as a keynote speaker at FDIC 2011, a technical editor for Fire Engineering, and a member of the advisory board for FDIC International. He received the 2024 Fire Engineering/ISfSI George D. Post Instructor of the Year Award and was a prolific author and educator. He taught at Miami-Dade College and was one of the first members of the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Working Group.
He co-hosted the regular Humpday Hangout, which took place on the second Wednesday of every month, with Mike Dugan.
In addition to expressing our profound sadness over Captain Gustin’s passing, the Fire Engineering staff would like to send their love and condolences to his family, the department, his coworkers, and everyone who had the opportunity to learn from him over the years.
